Questar Assessment Names Katie McClarty, Ph.D. as Its Chief Assessment Officer

McClarty joins Questar with deep expertise in assessment design and K–12 educational research and policy. Her areas of focus include college readiness, standard setting, gifted and talented, competency-based education, computer-based testing, and online and paper/pencil comparability. McClarty will lead Questar's Assessment Design and Psychometrics division and oversee item development, test design and development, psychometrics, and assessment and training support for Questar's staff and clients, while guiding design and development of testing programs.

"In all the things that mattered most to us in our search for a new chief assessment officer — outstanding academic performance, impeccable professional credentials, and an assessment philosophy complementary to our own — Katie immediately stood out as someone who has tirelessly sought out new challenges and consistently pursued excellence in herself and those around her," said Jamie Post Candee, Questar's president and chief executive officer. "I look forward to seeing the impact she will make on Questar Assessment in the years to come."  

Before joining Questar, McClarty served as the director for the Center for College & Career Success in Pearson's Research & Innovation Network. Her signature work for the Center included the co-creation of a college-readiness index for middle school students that became a centerpiece for future assessment strategy; the co-design and facilitation of standard-setting meetings for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC); and the leadership of a cross-functional research team to compare the PARCC assessment with other state, national, and international assessments. She was also the chief research scientist for the state of Texas general education assessment programs.

Widely published in the educational assessment academic community, McClarty is lead author of "Evidence based standard setting: Establishing a validity framework for cut scores," published in Educational Researcher, which describes the standard-setting approach adopted for Texas, PARCC, and several other programs. Her research on college and career readiness earned her the 2013 Charles F. Elton Best Paper Award from the Association for Institutional Research. She has also been invited to present at international conferences and symposiums such as the IMS Global's "Architecture for Innovation" Summit, the International Meeting of Educators in Brazil, and the Leading Voices project in Australia.  

McClarty earned her Ph.D. in social and personality psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and her Bachelor of Science degree, with distinction, in psychology from Iowa State University.

About Questar Assessment Inc.

Questar Assessment Inc. is a K–12 assessment solutions provider focused on building a bridge between learning and accountability. We take a fresh and innovative approach to meaningful assessment design, delivery, scoring, analysis, and reporting. And we are reimagining how assessments can empower educators by giving them the insights they need to improve instruction and fully prepare students for college or career. Our high-quality, reliable assessment products and services are easily scaled and tailored to meet the specific needs of states and districts needs at an unprecedented value. Educators trust our high-performing teams and dependable technology to minimize risks and ensure success for states, districts, schools, and students. Questar is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and can be reached at questarai.com or 952-997-2700.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362586  
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362615LOGO

SOURCE Questar Assessment Inc.

Related Links

http://www.QuestarAI.com